I've been observing JCPS for over a year now, and with each passing day, it's clear that Dr. Hargens is serving interests external to the people who should be her primary concern, namely tstudents, parents, teachers, staff, and the JCPS Board of Education.

For reasons known only to her, Dr. Hargens has alienated and gotten rid of many long time talented employees, and outsourced key functions for reasons that were proven to be false. She's also continually looked outside of JCPS to find employees to fill key roles.

These questionable actions reached a critical point with the April 2016 salary study. As indicated in the documentation of the salary study work session, her office convened a "Community Advisory Team" for the salary study consisting primarily of her staff and area business leaders and attorneys (including one known for union busting). This team used the pretense of two audits that found JCPS' central office staff too top heavy with high salaries as a way of attacking the benefits and increases of rank and file teachers and staff.

​After the salary study blew up into justifiable teacher and staff outrage, Dr. Hargens wrote an editorial saying 'teachers are valued". She also stated (emphasis mine):

​The CAT members also observed that the district might consider foregoing steps and cost-of-living increases for the upcoming budget cycle as JCPS determines the best path forward to achieve internal and external equity. No recommendations have been made. No action is being requested. There is no item on the agenda for the May 10 board meeting regarding this issue, and any proposals would be subject to union negotiations.

And yet just a few days earlier, in that April 26th work session, Dr. Hargens said (audio here at about the 40:00 mark): "Next step is on May 10th the recommendation would be no COLA, no steps, with some authority to negotiate for our lowest paid employees. But then to create a plan by the second board meeting in May to how are we going to address a compensation structure and moving forward and how are we going to bring the right people to the table in moving forward. So those are two steps that the board should see in May."

Those sound like specific recommendations, with a specific date of May 10th, to me. And they also sound like what I'm hearing coming out of the negotiations with the JCTA. So why misrepresent them in your editorial?

Additionally, why does Dr. Hargens not indicate that members of her staff were on the Community Advisory Team in that same editorial? Why does she not mention the participation of attorneys, including Jim Smith, who the JCTA recently noted was "anti-union". How exactly was this Community Advisory Team chosen?​Were their meetings open to the public? Where were representatives of the community of parents, students, and educators who would directly feel the impacts of these recommendations? Do those constituencies take a back seat to the business community?

The JCPS Board of Education indicated in its 6/28/16 evaluation of Dr. Hargens that one of her key objectives was to "(d)evelop an internal culture that is structured around high-performing teams, values collaboration, and fosters an atmosphere of trust" and noted "Board members have observed, via constituent communication and survey data, an internal culture where collaboration and participation are not ingrained and the erosion of trust in District leadership is sapping morale."

In spite of this admonition, Dr. Hargens and her team have continued to pursue what appears to be an adversarial approach to negotiating contracts with employees, leading to all four unions drafting a letter to the school board objecting to her approach.

I have said it before and I will say it again. I am a JCPS parent. I am happy with the experience my daughter has had in JCPS. The teachers and staff that she and we as parents have encountered have been kind, caring, and dedicated professionals. They DESERVE the pay they receive and the increases and benefits they have in their contract. I have spent over a year watching Dr. Hargens hear story after story from teachers, parents, and students about legitimate concerns they have that appear to have little or no resolution. That Dr. Hargens and whoever is advising her have deliberately misrepresented their own actions to undermine the pay and typical negotiations with JCPS' employees should be a red flag to our Board of Education. It is time for them to hold Dr. Hargens accountable for rebuilding the very trust they told her less than two months ago she had let erode, and to show teachers and staff that they are truly valued now and in the future. If the board cannot or will not do this, then it is time for the parents, students, and those who value our JCPS experience to go to the ballot box and find people who will.

This really disturbs me. Dr. Hargens seems to think she does not have to answer to anyone. I pay school taxes and I have no children involved in this. But my grandchildren will have to deal with low paid teachers who will eventually stop caring, if the administration only cares about themselves. Maybe it is time for the school board to start searching for someone who really wants to help the teachers and students!

Reply

Terri Wedding

8/17/2016 08:35:33 pm

I agree with Ms. Williams and the writer of this article - we need to hold Dr. Hargens accountable. I do not have children in the JCPS system anymore, but I do have grandchildren that attend JCPS schools. I want them to be afforded the best opportunities available concerning their school years, and I just don't see that happening with Dr. Donna Hargens as JCPS Superintendent.

Reply

Joan V

8/17/2016 06:14:55 pm

We should vote out the entire school board. They are unwilling to hear the teachers, students and parents. Teachers have lost control of the classroom, education falls right after. Dr. Hargett "my way or the highway" attitude is not serving our community, and is quickly growing resentment in the administration. The teachers should go on strike like the did in the late 70's. Stand up for yourselves!!! Wearing red is about as intimidating as a toddler's tantrum. Dr. Hargens should be fired.